Schedule of services at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Refectory Church and Assumption Cathedral Evening service (9th hour, vespers and matins with 1st hour) – 16.45 All-night vigil – 17.00 Early Liturgy – 6.15 5.30 Late Liturgy – 8.30 After the early and late Liturgy, memorial services are served. In the crypt of the Assumption Cathedral, custom prayer services are served daily (except for the twelve holidays): at 9.00 with blessing of water and at 13.00 without blessing of water. Trinity Cathedral Fraternal prayer service at the relics of St. Sergius, morning prayers and midnight office - 5.30–6.30 Prayer service with akathist Rev. Sergius – 5.00–6.30 Middle Liturgy – 6.30 6.30 Prayers with akathist to St. Sergius – 8.30–20.30 Prayers begin at 8.30; 10.30; 12.30; 14.30; 16.30; 18.30 On Sunday, a cathedral prayer service with an akathist to St. Sergius - 17.00 (if there is no all-night vigil). On Friday, the cathedral prayer service to the Mother of God with an akathist - 17.00 (if there is no all-night vigil). Blessed Oil can be obtained behind the candle box. On the eve of Sundays, twelfths and great holidays, after the all-night vigil with litia, confession is performed (at about 21.00), and on the day of the holiday itself there is an additional middle Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral at 8.30. The Nadkladeznaya Chapel is open daily from 8.00 to 20.00. Pyatnitskaya Chapel is open daily from 9.00 to 17.00. On Easter, during the days of Great Lent and on some twelfth and patronal feasts, services are performed according to a special schedule. Phone for information.

Gate Church in honor of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist Confession 1st shift – 6.00–7.30 5.00–8.00 Confession 2nd shift – 8.00–10.00 8.00–10.00 Church in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God at the Moscow Theological Academy Evening service (9th hour, Vespers and Matins from 1 o'clock) - 16.45 All-night vigil - 17.00 Confession in the Academy confessional - 6.00 7.00 Liturgy - 6.20 7.45 On Wednesdays, an akathist to the Intercession of the Mother of God is performed (except for days when the all-night vigil is celebrated) - 18.20 Church of St. John the Climacus in the seminary (entrance from the western side of the Lavra only during divine services) Evening service (9th hour, vespers and matins with 1st hour) – 16.45 All-night vigil – 17.00 No confession in the church vestibule Confession in the church vestibule – 7.00 Liturgy – 6.20 7.30 On Wednesdays (except for days when the all-night vigil is held) the akathist to the Sweetest Jesus and the paraklisis of the Mother of God alternate - 18.20 Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (located on the north side of the Lavra, 1st Shock Army St., 17, tel.) . Daily Evening service 17.00 Liturgy 7.40 Sacrament of Unction 12.00 The rite of expelling evil spirits (disciplining those possessed) is performed by Archimandrite German on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, except for the Twelve Feasts, at 12.00 in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Sergiev Posad, st. 1 -th Shock Army). Inquiries by phone. (496) 547-36-45.

What requirements to order Before the service in the churches of the Lavra, you can submit notes about health and repose. Simple notes are left independently in the baskets provided for this purpose, and custom notes are given to the duty officer. For a voluntary donation, in all churches of the Lavra you can order a sorokoust - a prayerful commemoration of a person for forty days. Considering that a large number of pilgrims come to the Lavra every day, we ask you to exercise moderation when writing notes. It would hardly be correct to try to include all close and distant relatives along with all acquaintances on one note. It is better to try to choose 10 - 15 names of those who primarily need your prayer. Custom prayer services are performed in the crypt of the Assumption Cathedral. There you can consecrate the icon or pectoral cross you brought with you. To perform the sacraments of baptism, wedding, funeral service and other requirements, it is better to go to any temple affiliated with the Lavra - since traditionally these services are not performed in monasteries. In the immediate vicinity of the Lavra there are churches of the Pyatnitsky Metochion (on the right side when leaving the Lavra, Red Army Avenue, 127, tel.), as well as the Church of St. Apostles Peter and Paul (behind the Kalichya Tower, 1st Shock Army Ave., 17, tel. (496) 547-36-45). At the Pyatnitsky courtyard, as in the churches of the Lavra, divine services are performed daily. You can submit a commemoration for forty days (Sorokoust), or for a longer period - for six months or for a year. Every week on Sundays before the Divine Liturgy, custom prayer services are held. The prayer service starts at 8.00. In the church of St. Apostles Peter and Paul, which is located outside the walls of the Lavra at the address 1st Shock Army Street, 17, you can order a commemoration at the “unstoppable psalter” - when the reading of the Psalter in the temple goes on constantly and does not stop either day or night. You can give for both the living and the deceased. Candles and prosphora in Lavra churches are distributed as donations. Candles for health should be placed on round candlesticks, for repose - on a canon (a square, low candlestick at the Crucifixion).

How to confess and receive communion In the Trinity Cathedral, the Liturgy begins at 6:30, in the Refectory Church or the Assumption Cathedral at 8:30 - the Liturgy, and at 17:00 - the All-Night Vigil. You can confess on the second floor of the Gate Church of St. John the Baptist. Confession for the early Liturgy begins at 6 am, for the late Liturgy - at 9. See the schedule of confession and services here. Before confession, special prayers are read. Don't be late! Even if you have not prepared for Communion, it is still worth arriving at the beginning of the service. In any case, the time spent in the temple will be gracious and joyful for you. Remember to turn off your mobile phones before entering the temple.

Trips to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra are carried out by tourist

History[edit]

The monastery was founded in 1337 by St. Sergius of Radonezh. From the day of its foundation to the present day, it has been one of the most revered shrines, the largest center of spiritual enlightenment and Russian culture. Within the walls of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, St. Nikon of Radonezh, St. Maxim the Greek, spiritual writers St. Epiphanius the Wise and Pachomius Logothetes. The Holy Archimandrites of the Lavra were the Moscow Saints Philaret (Drozdov; †1867) and Innocent (Veniaminov; †1879), as well as Sschmch. Metropolitan Vladimir (Epiphany; †1918).

For centuries, a unique library of handwritten and early printed books has been collected in the Lavra.

The monks of the Lavra founded and spiritually equipped hundreds of Russian monasteries, following the example of Sergius of Radonezh himself, who founded about forty monasteries during his lifetime.

In 1608-1610. the monastery with three thousand people withstood the siege of thirty thousand Polish-Lithuanian troops, who laid claim to Russia and the Moscow throne. The defense of the monastery, unparalleled in courage, was marked by miraculous phenomena of St. Sergius of Radonezh and other saints of God, who strengthened the spirit of the heroic defenders of Orthodoxy.

In 1744 the monastery received the honorary name Lavra. A glorious period in the history of the Lavra is associated with the name of Metropolitan. Moscow Plato (Levshin; †1812). In the 18th-19th centuries, in the vicinity of the Lavra, the Bethany Monastery, Bogolyubsky, Chernigov-Gethsemane monasteries and the Paraclete monastery arose. These small monasteries, spiritually and administratively connected with the Lavra, showed the world remarkable elders and ascetics.

Since 1814, the Moscow Theological Academy, the oldest higher educational institution in Russia, has been located on the territory of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra (before the fire of 1812, it was located in the Moscow Zaikonospassky Monastery, founded there in 1685)

In 1920, the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius was closed by atheists. For many years, its buildings housed the History and Art Museum and other government institutions; some of the buildings were given over to housing.

The revival of the monastery began after the Great Patriotic War, in 1946. Local Councils were held within its walls (in 1971, 1988, 1990).

Having gone through trials of war and atheism, the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is still a spiritual stronghold of Russia and one of the most revered places of pilgrimage.

Photo[edit]

Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius, 19th century.
Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius, top view
Bell tower
Trinity Cathedral
Assumption Cathedral
Assumption treasure with chapel
Refectory Church
Spiritual Church
Church of St. Nikon of Radonezh
Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Micah's Church
Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria
Temple of St. Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky
The relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh
Serapion Chamber
Sacristy
Moscow Theological Academy
Pancake Mountain observation deck
Plan of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra
Directions to the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra

Current state[edit]

The Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius is one of the most beautiful Russian monasteries. Each temple and cathedral has a unique history. The official website of the Lavra contains information about various buildings, including the monastery wall.

There is a hotel for pilgrims at the monastery, and a monastery health center is organized.

On the territory of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery is the Moscow Theological Academy, the oldest higher educational institution in Russia.

Temples[edit]

Bell tower (1741 – 1770)
Trinity Cathedral (1422–23)
Assumption treasure with a chapel (1644 - late 17th century)
Assumption Cathedral (1585)
Temple in honor of St. Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky (1635 - 1637)
Church in honor of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (1693 - 1699)
Church in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (Spiritual Church, 1476 – 1477)
Church in honor of the Appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Holy Apostles to St. Sergius of Radonezh (Micah's Church, 1734)
Church in the name of St. Nikon of Radonezh (1623)
Church of St. Sergius with the Refectory Chamber (Refectory Church, 1686 - 1692)
Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria (1746 – 1753)

Monasteries[edit]

Gethsemane Chernigov monastery
Pokrovsky Skete
Holy Dormition women's skete-monastery (Epifan)
Sergius Skete of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
Hermitage Paraclete

Compound[edit]

Annunciation Metochion of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
Bogorodskoye Metochion of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
Varnitskoye Compound
Vladimir Compound
Voskresensky courtyard
All Saints Metochion of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
Deulinsky courtyard
Moscow courtyard
Peresvetovsky courtyard of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
Compound "Kulikovo Field"
Pyatnitskoye Compound
Radonezh courtyard
Sergievskoye Compound
Spaso-Vifansky Monastery
Temple of the Appearance of the Mother of God to St. Sergius of Radonezh on the territory of the Children's Home for the Deaf-Blind
Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Vine)
Gelendzhik courtyard
Holy Trinity Church (Antarctica)

How to get there[edit]

Address:

141300, Moscow region, Sergiev Posad, Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra

Help numbers for general questions:

Monastery entrance: +7 496 540 53 34 (24 hours a day)
Office of the Lavra: +7 496 540 59 42 (8:00-17:00 Moscow time)

Telephone numbers of the Theological Academy and Seminary:

Office: +7 496 540 53 45
Rector's reception: +7 496 540 53 46

Official website of the Moscow Theological Academy

Email:

For private questions
For official correspondence

Directions:

By personal vehicle:
Yaroslavskoe highway (M8 highway). At the 46th kilometer turn to Sergiev Posad. The central street - Red Army Avenue - will lead to the Lavra. 24-hour parking is available on Red Army Avenue.
By train
from the Yaroslavsky station (Komsomolskaya metro station) to the station. Sergiev Posad or by electric train to the station. Alexandrov or Balakirevo, which also stop in Sergiev Posad.

Travel time is one and a half hours.

By bus
from the VDNH metro station to Sergiev Posad (bus No. 388). Buses depart at intervals of 10-15 minutes. Travel time without traffic jams is a little over an hour.

From the stations you can walk to the Lavra.

Shrines[edit]

The relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh (in the Trinity Cathedral)
The relics of St. Nikon of Radonezh (in the Trinity Cathedral)
The relics of St. Maxim the Greek (in the Spiritual Church)
The relics of St. Anthony of Radonezh (in the Spiritual Church)
The relics of St. Micah of Radonezh (in Micah's Church)
Relics of St. Isaiah of Rostov (chapter) (in the Serapion Chamber)
Relics of Joasaph, Metropolitan of Moscow (in the Serapion Chamber)
Relics of Serapion, Archbishop of Novgorod (in the Serapion Chamber)
The relics of the first martyr. Stephen, Archdeacon (Right) (in the Serapion Chamber)
Relics of the Child of Bethlehem (right hand) (in the Serapion Chamber)
A piece of the relics of the Great Martyr. Mercury (in the Serapion Chamber)
A piece of the relics of the Great Martyr. Theodore Stratilates (in the Serapion Chamber)
A piece of the relics of the Great Martyr. Theodore Tiron (in the Serapion Chamber)
A particle of the relics of the Holy Martyr. Zinovia (in the Serapion Chamber)
A piece of the relics of the Great Martyr. James the Persian (in the Serapion Chamber)
Part of the Virgin's robe (in the Serapion Chamber)
Pectoral cross-reliquary of St. Sergius (in the Serapion Chamber)
Icon of the Great Martyr. Demetrius of Thessalonica (in the house church of the Patriarchal Apartments)
A copy of the icon of the “Life-Giving Trinity” by St. Andrei Rublev in the iconostasis (in the Trinity Cathedral)
Icon of the Mother of God "Tikhvin" (in the Trinity Cathedral)
Icon of the Mother of God “Chernigov-Gethsemane” (in the Trinity Cathedral)
Revered icon of St. Nicholas (in the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh)
Lectern with part of the stone from the Holy Sepulcher (in the Nikon Church)
Grave of the last spiritual father of the Lavra, Schema-Archimandrite Zacharias (1850 – †1936)

On October 19, 2021, the remains of the monastery’s confessor before the revolution, Schema-Archimandrite Zacharias, were transferred to the Lavra from the chapel from the Vvedensky (old German) cemetery in Moscow. During his long life, Elder Zechariah performed many miracles, witnessed by eyewitnesses. He was granted a vision of the Holy Trinity and the Most Holy Theotokos three times; walked on water twice as if on dry land. Through his prayer, the deceased was resurrected. He healed the sick and had a special gift for confessing penitents. After the revolution of 1917, Elder Zacharias was the last to leave the closed Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra and settled in Moscow with his spiritual children.

Many famous people were buried in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra: Princess Marfa Vladimirovna (daughter of Staritsky Prince Vladimir Andreevich and wife of the Danish Prince Magnus), the family of Boris Godunov, figures of the Time of Troubles, Prince D.T. Trubetskoy and Prokopiy Lyapunov, as well as representatives of noble Russian families - the Belskys, Pronskys, Vorotynskys, Nagikhs, Odoevskys, Obolenskys, Glinskys. Moscow bishops are buried in the Lavra churches: Plato (Levshin), Augustine (Vinogradsky), Filaret (Drozdov), Makariy (Bulgakov), Leonty (Lebedinsky), Sergius (Lyapidevsky), Makariy (Nevsky). Patriarchs Alexy I and Pimen are buried under the Assumption Cathedral in the Church of All Saints in the Russian Land of the Shining Ones. I.S. is buried behind the altar of the Assumption Cathedral on the north side. Aksakov (†1886). K.N. is buried in the cemetery of the Chernigov monastery. Leontyev (†1891), V.V. Rozanov (†1919) and other famous figures of Russian culture.

The Sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra houses unique exhibits: icons, handwritten and early printed books, works of facial and ornamental embroidery, gold and silver items.

The source of St. Sergius of Radonezh “Gremyachiy Klyuch” is located near the village of Vzglyadnevo (not far from the village of Malinniki). Holy water can also be collected in the Nadkladeznaya chapel and under the canopy of the cross on Cathedral Square, at the springs of St. Savva of Storozhevsky behind the northern wall of the monastery and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker behind the Kelar ponds.

Interesting facts and legends

Interesting facts that have become legends in the history of the monastery over many years:

Nicholas II personally came to Barnabas of Gethsemane (canonized in 1995). They talked for a long time in private. They say that Barnabas then predicted a painful death for him and his entire family and the death of the Romanov royal dynasty.
They say that the Chernigov monastery and the Gethsemane monastery were once connected by an underground passage dug by monks and giving them the opportunity to freely go to the Chernigov monastery to worship in the cave temple.
Parishioners, who came to the monastery not for the first time, claim that the number of angels surrounding the Mother of God in the “Unbreakable Wall” icon is gradually increasing, the holy faces seem to appear on the icon. No one can reliably confirm this miracle, but everyone looks carefully at the icon and tries to count the angels.
The paths to the Skete are lined with tombstones from the old skete necropolis, destroyed under the Bolsheviks.